Les Bowen

STAFF WRITER

Les Bowen has covered the Eagles since 2002. Before that, he covered the Flyers for 13 years. He came to the Daily News from the Charlotte Observer in May 1983, just as the Sixers were winning the NBA championship. He thought, "Gosh, this sort of thing must happen all the time here."

Eagles starting quarterback Michael Vick suffered two broken ribs in Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals, coach Andy Reid said at his news conference on Monday. Reid said Vick was injured on the second play of the game, a completed pass to Brent Celek on which Cards linebacker Daryl Washington came in unblocked and blasted Vick just under his throwing arm after his release.

“Michael Vick has broken ribs . . . Yeah, he broke his ribs, the lower two ribs. We’ll see in the next couple of days how things go.”

Reid wouldn’t speculate whether Vick will be ready to play Sunday night against the Giants.

“We’ll see. I’ll see in the next little bit. He’s a tough nut.”

Reid was asked if the broken ribs had anything to do with Vick’s passing inaccuracy. “It probably had something to do with it,” Reid said. “He did some good things and I didn’t think it came down to him right there. He said he just kinda blanked it out and played. He didn’t think twice about it.”

Reid was asked whether Vince Young will get the reps at practice, Reid said: “We’ll see how it goes.”

Reid started the news conference with his usual spiel: “It’s obvious that we didn’t play well yesterday and that’s my responsibility as the football coach. I have to do a better job. I would like to point at one area but it’s a combination of things. We all have to do our jobs better, especially in the fourth quarter. The other thing that’s obvious is the penalties. You can’t have 11 penalties. Getting off the field in these third-down situations is important.”

Reid was asked given the 3-6 record and problems the team has encountered whether he is the right coach for the team. “Yes,” Reid said.

Reid reiterated his faith in defensive coordinator Juan Castillo.

He also disclosed other injuries, including a high ankle sprain for corner Dominque-Rodgers Cromartie (which Rodgers-Cromartie said involved torn ligaments), a concussion for King Dunlap, and an AC joint sprain and hamstring for Jeremy Maclin.